Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rodent models suggest that follistatin-like 3 (fstl3) is associated with diabetes and obesity. In humans, plasma fstl3 is reduced with gestational diabetes. In vitro, TNF-α induces fstl3 secretion, which suggests a link to inflammation.
OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the association between plasma fstl3 and obesity, insulin resistance, and low-grade inflammation in humans.
STUDY DESIGN: Plasma fstl3 levels were determined in a cross-sectional study including three groups: patients with type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, and healthy controls. In addition, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), TNF-α, or interleukin-6 (IL-6) as well as a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp were used to examine if plasma fstl3 was acutely regulated in humans.
RESULTS: Plasma fstl3 was increased in obese subjects independent of glycemic state. Moreover, plasma fstl3 was positively correlated with fat mass, plasma leptin, fasting insulin, and HOMA B and negatively with HOMA S. Furthermore plasma fstl3 correlated positively with plasma TNF-α and IL-6 levels. Infusion of LPS and TNF-α, but not IL-6 and insulin, increased plasma fstl3 in humans.
CONCLUSION: Plasma fstl3 is increased in obese subjects and associated with fat mass and low-grade inflammation. Furthermore, TNF-α increased plasma fstl3, suggesting that TNF-α is one of the inflammatory drivers of increased systemic levels of fstl3.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 364209 |
| Journal | Mediators of Inflammation |
| Volume | 2014 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-10 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 0962-9351 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Adiponectin
- Adult
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Follistatin-Related Proteins
- Humans
- Inflammation
- Insulin
- Interleukin-6
- Leptin
- Lipopolysaccharides
- Male
- Obesity
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
